Label dispenser



March 27, 1945. R. s. AVERY LABEL DISPENSER Filed Sept. 14, 1942 INVEN TOR.

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Patented Mar. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LABEL DISPENSER Ray Stanton Avery, Los Angeles, Calif. Application September 14, 1942, Serial No. 458,241

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in label dispensers, and may be regarded as a further development of some of the disclosures made in my copending application Serial No. 349,892, filed August 2, 1940.

The invention particularly concerns the dispensing and removal of labels of a label strip which comprises a back strip of considerable length on which the labels are mounted by means of pressure sensitive adhesive.

It is 'now well known that labels of such a label strip can be conveniently removed from the backing by drawing the backing across a relatively sharp peeling edge. This eifectively peels or separates the backing from the adhesive sides of the labels. The success of such an operation is largely dependent upon the sharpness of the edge and the maintenance of the backing in fairly close engagement with the means providing the peeling edge at a location near the go peeling edge. If the edge is not relatively sharp or the backing is permitted to move away from the peeling edge providing means as it approaches and recedes from the peeling edge, then the ability to peel the backing from the labels is considerably reduced. Under such circumstances there is a tendency for the labels to follow the backing around the peeling edge rather than have the backing peeled from the labels so as to dispense them in a condition in which they may be applied.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved label dispenser wherein provision is made for storing a suitable length of the label strip the dispenser providing a peeling edge and to provide means that will assure the proper guiding of the label strip toward and from the peeling edge in such a manner that a proper peeling of the backing from the labels may be accomplished at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a label dispenser consisting of a magazine in which a supply of label strip is kept, the magazine being so designed that threading of the label strip around the peeling edge is greatly facilitated.

Still another object of the inventionis to provide a label dispenser consisting of a magazine and a cover therefor, the magazine having a peeling edge around which the label strip is trained and the magazine being movably mounted with relation to the cover whereby the pull on the backing strip which draws it across the peeling edge is eflective to automatically swing the peeling edge providing structure into engagement with the cover, thus assuring that that portion of the backing strip which is approaching and receding from the peeling edge will be maintained in proper contact with the sides of the peeling edge providing structure.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawing for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the label dispenser embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 2-2 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 3-3 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 4-4 upon Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank employed to make the magazine.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved label dispenser comprises an outer box-like cover preferably but not necessarily formed of cardboard. This cover provides a top H), side walls II and I2, bottom l3, and one end It. This end may be formed by flaps integral with the top, bottom, and sides that are folded in overlapping relationship and glued together. The opposite end of the cover is entrely open and adjacent this open end the sidevialls may have finger recesses Hi. In the top wall It) there is formed an opening l6 providing a passage for the backing ll of the label strip. The label strip is illustrated as being in the form of a roll 18 consisting of a continued length of backing of considerable length on which are positioned paper labels l9 which are attached to the backing by means of pressure sensitive adhesive 2D. The backing may be of any preferred material, such as for example, Cellophane, glassine, or the like, to which the pressure sensitive adhesive has some but no great aflinity so that when the labels are removed from the backing strip the labels will remove with them the pressure sensitive adhesive.

The roll I8 of label strip is deposited within a magazine preferably formed of cardboard and made up of a blank as illustrated in Fig. 5. This blank provides a bottomwall 2i of size and shape to fit within the cover over the bottom 13. It also provides two upstanding sides 22 and 23 which are adapted to lie against the inner sides of the sides II and I2 of the cover. At the top of side 23 there is a top flap 24 which provides a lower platform at the top of the magazine. This has integral with it a glue flap 25 that is adapted to be connected to the inner face of wall 22 at the adhesive area 26. Flaps 21, 28, 29, and 30 are adapted'to be folded toward each other in superposed relationship and to be glued at the adhesive area 3! to provide a front wall 32 for the magazine. A flap 33 is connected to the top of wall 22 and this flap is arranged to overlie the platform 24. Flap 33 is the part of the magazine that provides the peeling edge. This peeling edge which is at the forward side of flap 33 is preferably covered with a foil label 34 so that the peeling edge will not only be relatively sharp, but will present a harder and smoother surface than merely the cut edge of the cardboard. A locking flap 35 is integral with the flap 33 and is adapted to be extended downwardly over the outer side of wall 23 of the magazine. It is preferably equipped with an car 36 receivable in a slit 31. As will be noted from an inspection of Figs. 3 and 5, the upper rear corners of the walls 22 and 23 of the magazine are beveled oil providing points 38 which act as fulcrums for the magazine when they are moved into engagement with the back wall H of the cover. Flap 24 which provides the platform below the peeling edge providing flap 33 is also equipped with a flap 39 which, as shown in Fig. 3, may be merely bent downwardly so as to engage the top of the roll l8 and act as a drag, or if desired, this may be glued to the underside of the platform flap 24 to stiffen it.

The operation and advantages of the improved dispenser are as follows: Assuming that the cardboard blank illustrated in Fig. has been set up and the flaps glued together, the roll l8 of labels is deposited therein by merely slipping it into the magazine between the side walls 22 and 23 through the open rear end of the magazine. The free end of the roll is then drawn forwardly over the platform 24. Flap 33 which provides the peeling edge is then swung downwardly so as to overlie the end of the label strip and the flap 35 is bent downwardly over the outer side of the wall 23. Ear 36 is then inserted in slit 3! so as to lock flap 33 in place. The backing of the label strip is then bent rearwardly around the peeling edge afforded by the foil label 34. The magazine is then in condition to be inserted in the cover which is accomplished by merely slipping it through the open forward end of the cover. During this process of insertion the free end of the backing I1 is slipped upwardly through opening l6. The dispenser is then in condition to dispense the labels. This is accomplished by merely pulling the backing l1 rearwardly which draws the backing forwardly between platform 24 and flap 33 around the peeling edge afforded by the foil label 34 and rearwardly between flap 33 and the top wall I0 forwardly of the opening 5. As the backing is drawn around the relatively sharp edge it effectively peels itself from the adhesive on the labels discharging the labels forwardly as shown in Fig. 1, enabling them to be grasped readily and applied directly to articles of merchandise.

It will be noted that the pull on the backing I1 is effective to urge the entire magazine against the rear wall M of the cover and the direction of forces applied to the magazine are such as to tend to turn or rotate the magazine within the cover. Consequently the points 38 are moved into engagement with the back wall It and serve zinc and the cover.

somewhat as fulcrums about which the magazine can move slightLv within the cover. Attempted rotation of the magazine within the cover about points 38 as fulcrums tends to swing the magazine and consequently the flap 33 into engagement with the top wall In of the cover with the result that the backing II as it recedes from the peeling edge is clamped or squeezed between flap 33 and top wall to, thus maintaining the backin in firm contact with the top of flap 33. The pressure to some extent is also transmitted through flap 33 tending to squeeze the label strip between flap 33 and platform 24. Consequently the backing as it approaches the peeling edge and as it recedes from the peeling edge, will be maintained in firm engagement with the bottom and top, respectively, of flap 33 resulting in an assured peeling of the backing from the labels.

In ordinary cardboard box manufacture there are usually considerable tolerances with the result that all covers are not exactly uniform. Likewise the magazines are not apt to be exactly uniform. Consequently, the assemblies of some magazines with some covers will have the magazine disposed quite loosely in the cover. The ability of the present construction to shift the magazine into firm engagement with the cover adjacent the peelin edge provides an automatic take-up that will assure the maintenance of the backing strip in firm engagement with the flap 33 at all times.

The construction is also advantageous in the following respect. Narrow label strips having relatively small labels do not require as great a frictional drag to accomplish proper peeling as wide labels. Inasmuch as the force with which the magazine is rotated into engagement with the top wall I0 is a function of the degree of pull imparted to backing I1 and this degree of pull is somewhat dependent upon the friction between the backing and the surfaces of the magazine and cover which, in turn, is a function of the area of engagement, a narrow label strip will not have a great degree of frictional contact with the maga- The pull required to peel the backing from the labels is consequently small and the rotational tendency of the magazine within the cover is consequently reduced. With wide labels, the area of contact is increased, the friction is increased, the pull required on the backing strip is consequently greater, and the tendency of the magazine to rotate within the cover is increased commensurately. Consequently, the present construction provides for an automatic adjustment for imposing the required amount of pressure on the label strip backing as it approaches and as it recedes from the peeling edge to insure proper peeling of the labels.

It will be appreciated from the above-de-' scribed construction that the assembly of the magazine with the cover can be easily accomplished and the threading of the label strip around the peeling edge is also very easily accomplished.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a label dispenser for a strip of labels mounted on a backing by pressure sensitive adhesive, means providing a relatively thin peeling edge over which the backing may be drawn to peel the labels therefrom, means for guiding the backing rearwardly from the peeling edge, said means providing a, surface relatively to which the peeling edge providing means is movable whereby upon pulling the backing the peeling edge providing means will be urged thereby towards said surface to press the backing thereagainst.

2. In a label dispenser for a. strip of labels mounted on a backing by normally tacky adhesive, means providing a magazine for a supply of the backing with labels thereon, said means providing a peeling edge over which the backing may be drawn to peel the labels therefrom, and' a cover for the magazine relative to which the magazine is movable, said cover serving to guide the backing after it passes over the peeling edge and providing a surface against which the magazine may urge the backing when the backing is pulled over the peeling edge.

3. In a label dispenser for a strip of labels mounted on a backing by normally tacky adhesive, means providing a magazine for a supply of the backing with the labels thereon, said magazine having a platform over which the backing is trained, and means over the platform providing a peeling edge over which the backing may be reversely drawn to peel the backing from the labels, and a, cover for the magazine overlying the peeling edge providing means presenting a surface adjacent the peeling edge beneath which the backing may be drawn in receding from the peeling edge.

4. In a label dispenser for a strip of labels mounted on a' backing by normally tacky adhesive, means providing a magazine for a supply of the backing with the labels thereon, said magazine having a platform over which the backing is trained, and means over the platform providing a peeling edge over which the backing may be reversely drawn to peel the backing from the labels, and a cover for the magazine presenting a surface adjacent the peeling edge beneath which the backing may be drawn in receding from the peeling edge, the magazine be ing movable towards said surface under the influence of the pull on the backing to press the backing against said surface.

5. In a label dispenser for a strip of labels mounted on a backing by normally tacky adhesive, means providing a peeling edge over which the backing may be drawn to peel the labels therefrom, means for holding the backing closely adjacent the peeling edge providing means as it approaches the peeling edge, means for holding the backing closely adjacent the peeling edge providing means as it recedes from the peeling edge, the peeling edge providing means being movable toward the last-mentioned means under the influence of the pull on the backing to press the backing thereagainst.

6. A label dispenser comprising a cover having an opening in its top wall and an open forward end, a magazine receivable in the cover through the open forward end, said magazine having fulcrums engageable with the rear wall of the cover, means providing a platform at the top of the magazine adjacent the forward end thereof. and means providing a peeling edge overlying the platform and disposed beneath the top wall of the cover.

7. A label dispenser comprising a cover having an open forward end, there being an aperture in the top of the cover, a magazine receivable in the cover, means providing a platform on the magazine, and means providing a peeling edge over the platform and beneath the top wall of the cover.

8. A magazine for label dispensers having a bottom, sides, a front wall and a top wall providing a platform, and a flap arranged over the top wall, said flap providing a peeling edge.

9. A magazine for label dispensers having a bottom, sides, a front wall and a top wall providing a platform, and a flap arranged over the top wall, said flap providing a peeling edge, the upper rear corners of the side walls being beveled on to provide fulcrum points at the back of the magazine.

' RAY STANTON AVERY. 

